Omahu Marae in Fernhill, Hastings is currently housing 45 homeless whānau who are sleeping in their wharenui that has no functioning heating.
The kaimahi work tirelessly organising the mountain of donations, keeping the kitchen running with hot kai and comforting whānau, including kaumātua, who are still waiting for answers. Post Gabrielle, bones began washing up from the nearby Uru Pa and during this Matariki, they will return them to papatūānuku.
While they work on getting their heating restored, Omahu Marae are waiting with whānau to see when their community will start the long journey of when repairs will begin and relocating whānau to more permanent housing post Gabrielle.
In spite of their ongoing challenges, kaimahi remain positive, while over them hang the decade-old light shades made from recycled polystyrene, designed by Uncle George Nuku, who now resides in Paris and has had his work displayed in the Louvre.
